Obama backs anti-Trump protests, says 'American values are at stake'

Former US President Barack Obama released a statement today Monday Jan. 30th supporting the protests going on around the country against Donald Trump's ban on travelers and refugees entering the US from 7 Muslim-majority countries.

The statement, issued by Obama’s spokesman, Kevin Lewis, is the first time that the former US president will weigh in on Trump’s presidency. Read the statement after the cut..

"President Obama is heartened by the level of engagement taking place in communities around the country. In his final official speech as President, he spoke about the important role of citizens and how all Americans have a responsibility to be the guardians of our democracy — not just during an election but every day.

Citizens exercising their Constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake. With regard to comparisons to President Obama’s foreign policy decisions, as we’ve heard before, the President fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith."